Mouth brush

ABSTRACT

A mouth brush having a frame with first and second ends defining a longitudinal axis and formed from a solid material such as hard plastic. Conventional tooth brush bristles are mounted on the first end of the frame and extend down to define a first orientation perpendicular to the axis. Soft rubber nubs are mounted on the first end and extend perpendicularly from the axis in all other directions from the first orientation. These nubs are sufficiently soft to gently massage all oral tissue without changing one&#39;s toothbrushing routine. The device minimizes exfoliation of tissue layers in the mouth. A second material is also formed on the frame as a handle portion. The handle portion may be a soft material such as soft rubber so as to increase the user&#39;s grip when wet with water.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a brush for use with tooth paste. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates a mouth brush that massagesportions of the mouth during use of the device as a tooth brush.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tooth brushes have been part of the normal routine of people for a long,long time. The dental industry, including dentists, oral hygienists,tooth brush and tooth paste manufacturers, and many others havesuccessfully encouraged the use of a tooth brush on a regular scheduleas part of normal life routines.

A variety of designs have been proposed for tooth brushes, some havingsimple, straightforward configurations and others having designs,artistic flairs and the like. U.S. Pat. No. 1,125,532 is one example ofa conventional tooth brush.

In addition, some tooth brushes have other components that attempt toaccomplish additional functions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,522 teaches thatbraces can be cleaned with its design. U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,365 providesa tooth brush for false teeth. U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,390 discloses a toothbrush with a “U” shaped head to contact more than one surface of theteeth at one time.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,296 discloses an all-sided mouth brush having avariety of alternate cleaning devices on the three sides that do nothave the toothbrush bristles. This patent teaches the use of a pluralityof parallel ridges, or a plurality of spade headed bristles, or offsetrows of bristle-like structures, or a series of templates thatremoveably fit on to the device as desired. None of the various cleaningdevices in U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,296 are formed from soft rubber in theshape of a nub, and this patent does not suggest the idea that portionsof the mouth may be gently messaged and stimulated to promote generalhealth. In point of fact, U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,296 specifically statesthat interchangeable bristle type or rigid structures are adapted to beconnected over the alternative cleaning portion of the device. Cleaningis the stated goal of this patentee.

None of the prior art discloses another purpose for tooth brushes, whichis to gently massage the soft vital oral tissue including the tongue,cheeks, and gums of the user while the user is brushing his or her teethin a normal fashion.

One embodiment of the present invention is to provide device formassaging the inside of the user's mouth while brushing the teeth.

Another embodiment is to provide a device for massaging the mouth thatis sufficiently gentle to avoid significant exfoliation of tissue layersin the mouth.

Yet another embodiment is to provide a simple, effective mouth brushthat can be made in a double molding step.

Other embodiments will appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is admirably suited for use as a mouth brush. Thedevice includes a frame with first and second ends defining alongitudinal axis and formed from a solid material such as hard plastic.Conventional tooth brush bristles are mounted on the first end of theframe and extend down to define a first orientation perpendicular to theaxis.

Soft rubber nubs are also mounted on that first end and extendperpendicularly from the axis in all other directions from the firstorientation. These nubs are sufficiently soft to avoid exfoliation oftissue layers in the mouth. A preferred second material is also formedon the frame as a handle portion. The handle portion may be a softmaterial such as soft rubber so as to increase the user's grip when wetwith water. Both the soft nubs and the handle can be molded on to theframe in one molding or over-molding step.

The mouth brush of this invention may be made as a hand held brush or itmay be made as an electric brush that attaches to a conventionalelectric toothbrush device.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a plan or bottom view of a device according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 1B is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a plan or top view of another device according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2B is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 2A; and

FIG. 2C is a bottom view of the device shown in FIG. 2A.

In the figures, like reference characters designate identical orcorresponding components and units throughout the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a mouth brush 10 generally, shown as a handheld toothbrush and mouth brush in FIGS. 1A-C and as an attachment to anelectric toothbrush in FIGS. 2A-C. The mouth brush has a hard framehaving a first end 11 and a second end 13, defining a longitudinal axis15. The frame is hard enough that it holds its shape when used as abrush, and is preferably made from a hard plastic that is suitably safefor use in a person's mouth. Polypropylene is most preferred, but anymaterial normally used now or in the future for toothbrushes may beused.

Bristles 17 are mounted on the second end 13 and extend up from the axis15 to define a first orientation generally perpendicular to the axis. Itis understood that generally perpendicular is meant to define thetypical orientation of bristles on a toothbrush and includes otherangled alignments of bristles to handle, including fancy designs.

Soft nubs 19 are also mounted on the first end 11 of the frame andextend generally perpendicularly from the axis 15 in all otherdirections from the first orientation. In FIGS. 1A, 1C, 2A and 2C, softnubs 19 are at a 90° angle with respect to bristles 17, and in FIGS. 1Band 2B are at a 180° angle with respect to bristles 17. Soft nubs 19 areformed from a soft material such as soft rubber, such as thermoplasticelastomers including styrenic block copolymers, thermoplasticvulcanizates and thermoplastic polyurethane. Many soft rubbers areavailable commercially, such as from GLS Corporation in McHenry, Ill.Soft nubs 19 may be attached to first end 11 in any manner. Preferred isto mold nubs 19 on to first end 11 of a molded handle.

Also formed on the frame is a handle portion 21, which is preferably amaterial similar to or identical to the nub 19 material. Soft rubber asdescribed above is most preferred. In a preferred method of making themouth brush of this invention, both soft nubs 19 and handle material 21are molded on to the frame at one time, leaving exposed some portions offirst end 11 and second end 13. Of course, logos and other indicia mayalso be added during or after the molding process.

The device of the present invention may be configured as a hand helddevice as shown in FIGS. 1A-C or it may be configured as an electrictoothbrush attachment, shown in Fits. 2A-C, having a suitable opening 14for attachment to the electric device. It is recognized that variouselectric toothbrushes are available and it is intended to provide themouth brush of this invention to any and all of the commerciallyavailable products. For that reason, the end 14 will be specific to theparticular product for which it is intended. The present invention doesnot depend on any specific form of electric toothbrush, recognizing thatindividual designs may require specific attachment configurations orcomponents. In FIGS. 2B and 2C, nubs 19 a are stationary and interactwith soft tissue when the device is moved from one location to the nextduring brushing. In FIG. 2A, part 23 of a typical electric toothbrushrotates as Illustrated by arrow 24, and part 25 reciprocates back andforth as illustrated by arrow 26. Those parts 23 and/or 25 having softnubs 19 will also contact soft tissue in the mouth during use of thedevice.

The device of the present invention functions in two distinct andimportant manners. First, it is a conventional toothbrush with bristles17 for brushing the user's teeth. Second, it is a mouth brush such thatsoft nubs 19 gently massage soft vital oral tissue, including thetongue, inside of the cheeks, lips, palate, gums and the intersectionsof these parts of the oral cavity. The soft nubs 19 are designed toflex, and are sufficiently soft to not exfoliate tissue layers thatwould happen if bristles or other coarser materials were employed as amassage agent. The soft, gentle massage of the mouth brush of thisinvention is believed to contribute to improved mouth care to preserveor maintain healthy mouth soft tissues, and this is accomplished duringordinary tooth brushing steps.

It is known that the oral cavity can be afflicted with numerous ailmentsincluding, but not limited to burning mouth syndrome, canker sores, drymouth/xerostomia, oral thrush, aphthous stomatitis, lichen plonus andhalitosis. It is theorized, but not clinically documented, that themouth brush of this invention may be able to stimulate saliva productionand additional blood flow levels to the vital tissues in the oral cavityby gently massaging soft oral tissues and glands.

Specifically, dry mouth may be caused by aging and metabolic changes,prescription and nonprescription drugs, diseases such at Sjogren'ssyndrome and lupus, medical treatments such as chemotherapy andradiation. To a lesser degree, every day habits such as using tobaccoproducts, caffeine and alcohol consumption or mouthwashes can causemouth problems. Talking for long periods of time, nervousness, snoring,being exposed to dust, paint, Irritants and dry heading conditions canalso cause dry mouth. A non chemical method of stimulating saliva flowsuch as the present invention would be extremely important to theestimated 30% of adults in the United States affected by dry mouth orxerostomia.

A return to normal saliva flow is essential for taste, swallowing,digestion, healthy gums and teeth, voice and speech articulation. Salivaalso helps prevent potentially severe dental problems, and provides afirst defense against chemical, mechanical and infectious attacks, andthe present invention is believed to cause increased saliva flow.

The mouth brush of this invention is also designed to promote increasedblood circulation b gently massaging oral tissues not addressed bynormal brushing alone. These areas include the tongue, inside of checksand the palate, and the gums. Increased blood circulation to these areasincreases the healing process and promotes vital and healthy oraltissue, all in accordance with the present invention.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention,except as defined by the following claims.

1. A mouth brush device, comprising: a frame with first and second endsdefining a longitudinal axis and formed from a solid material; toothbrush bristles mounted on the first end of the frame and extend up todefine a first orientation perpendicular to the axis; soft nubs mountedon the first end and extending perpendicularly from the axis in allother directions from the first orientation; and a second materialformed on the frame as a handle portion for gripping said device.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said solid material is a hard plastic.
 3. Thedevice of claim 2, wherein said hard plastic is polypropylene.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said soft nubs are made from soft rubber. 5.The device of claim 4, wherein said soft rubber is selected from thegroup consisting of styrenic block copolymers, thermoplasticvulcanizates and thermoplastic polyurethane.
 6. The device of claim 5,wherein said rubber is sufficiently soft to minimize exfoliation oftissue in the mouth.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said secondmaterial is a soft rubber.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein said secondmaterial and said soft nubs are both formed from the same material. 9.The device of claim 8, wherein said soft nubs and said second materialare molded on to said hard material in a single molding step.
 10. Thedevice of claim 9, wherein said handle is selected from the groupconsisting of hand held toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes.
 11. Amouth brush device, comprising: frame means with first and second endsfor defining a longitudinal axis and formed from a solid material; toothbrush bristles mounted on the first end of the frame and extend down todefine a first orientation perpendicular to the axis; soft nub means formassaging the interior of the mouth during brushing mounted on the firstend and extending perpendicularly from the axis in all other directionsfrom the first orientation; and second material means formed on theframe for forming a handle portion for gripping said device.
 12. Thedevice of claim 11, wherein said solid material is a hard plastic. 13.The device of claim 12, wherein said hard plastic is polypropylene. 14.The device of claim 11, wherein said soft nub means are made from softrubber.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein said soft rubber is selectedfrom the group consisting of styrenic block copolymers, thermoplasticvulcanizates and thermoplastic polyurethane.
 16. The device of claim 15,wherein said rubber is sufficiently soft to minimize exfoliation oftissue in the mouth.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein said secondmaterial is a soft rubber.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein saidsecond material and said soft nub means are both formed from the samematerial.
 19. The device of claim 18, wherein said soft nub means andsaid second material are molded on to said hard material in a singlemolding step.
 20. The device of claim 16, wherein said handle isselected from the group consisting of hand held toothbrushes andelectric toothbrushes.